Lifeboat plunges 10m with 22 on board

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A lifeboat on New Zealand Navy tanker HMNZS Endeavour like the one that plunged 10 metres to the water at Garden Island today. Photo: Peter Morris

Twelve New Zealand sailors were injured when their lifeboat fell 10m into the water at Sydney's naval base during a routine exercise today.

Two of the 12 had suspected spinal injuries after the incident aboard the fleet replenishment tanker HMNZS Endeavour at 10.50am.

The ship was docked at Sydney's Garden Island naval base when a mechanism used to lower the lifeboat appeared to snap, causing it to fall into the water with 22 people aboard, ending upside down.

"The boat fell about 10m ... the boat was being lowered at the time as part of the standard lowering procedure," the ship's commanding officer, Commander David Hedgley, told reporters.

All those aboard, who were wearing lifejackets, were out of the water within 15 minutes.

Some swam to safety, some were pulled from the water and others were picked up by other support boats.

Five people were taken to St Vincents Hospital in a stable condition, two of whom were being examined for suspected spinal injuries, an ambulance spokesman said.

A further seven were being treated for minor injuries in the nearby naval hospital.

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Cdr Hedgley said he did not know what caused the accident.

"I'm not even prepared to (speculate) until a full inquiry has been conducted."

The New Zealand navy and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority were investigating.

"A full inquiry is underway as we speak," Cdr Hedgley said.

The New Zealand naval command had been told of the accident and was contacting the families of those involved.

Twenty of the 22 aboard the lifeboat had only recently joined the 49-strong crew.

"My main concern as the commanding officer of this ship is that all of my people, who I'm in charge of, are safe and that they are being extremely well cared for," Cdr Hedgley said.

The Endeavour has been at Garden Island since Friday, supporting the new Anzac frigate HMAS Ballarat.

It had been due to leave today but the lifeboat had been impounded while the investigation was carried out.

"With the inquiry that's going on, and my determination that we get to the bottom of what this incident is all about, we will be staying here until such time as I'm happy that my people are safe," Cdr Hedgley said.